Article carrier



Aug. 26, 1958 F. w. FIELDING ARTICLE CARRIER Filed Oct. 17, 1955 3SheetsSheet 1 NVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

g 26, 1958 F. w. FIELDING I 4 ARTICLE CARRIER Filed Oct. 17, 1955 5Sheets-Sheet s E r i) 25} WIN V EN T ORI 33 25 j zag zcz', 'W'Q/IMZ/MATTORNEYS.

ARTICLE CARRIER Francis W. Fielding, New Orleans, La., assignor toLeugsfield Brothers, Inc., New Orleans, La., a corporation of LouisianaApplication October 17, 1955, Serial No. 540,981

4 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) This invention relates to an article carrier andmore particularly to a container for packaging and carrying articlessuch as cylindrical cans or the like.

Article carriers or cartons of this type must be relatively inexpensive,must be made so that they can be folded flat for shipment and storageand must be easy to fill. One of the problems encountered in designingsatisfactory carriers is that of holding the articles securely in thecarrier against accidental removal while permitting relatively easyremoval of the articles when desired. Carriers as heretofore constructedhave utilized cut-outs or relatively complex flap structures for thispurpose which are expensive to form or are wasteful of material andwhich are difficult to handle in filling the carriers.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an articlecarrier which is extremely economical to manufacture, easy to fill andwhich holds the article securely in place when it is filled.

According to one feature of the invention, no cutouts or complicatedflaps requiring gluing or other fastenings are employed to hold thearticles in the carrier. According to another feature the carrier isformed of a simple sheet of paper board or the like folded and gluedwith a single seam preferably falling at the center of the top or bottompanel to define an open ended container.

Another object is to provide an article carrier in which the articlesare held in at the ends of the container by simple foldable flaps andwebs at the ends of certain of the container panels which are held infolded position by engagement with the articles in the container.

A further object is to provide an article carrier which is easily formedwith or without handles.

A still further object is to provide an article carrier which is made inthe form of a simple rectangular container to receive single or multiplerows of articles or in the form of a container with a central partitionto receive separated double rows of articles.

When a handle is desired it may easily be formed by cutting out handleportions at the ends of the sheet in the case of a simple rectangularcontainer or by laminating handle portions intermediate the edges of thetop panel and at the end of the central partition in containersemploying a central partition.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be morereadily apparent from the following description when read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a simple basic container embodying theinvention;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the blank from which the container isformed;

Figure 3 is an end view of the container in flattened condition forshipment or storage;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the container erected ready forfilling;

Figure 5 is a partial section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

hired States Patent f 2,849,l l l Patented Aug. 26, 1958 Figure 6 is aview similar to Figure 4 of a container formed with handles;

Figure 7 is an elevation of the blank from which the container of Figure6 is formed;

Figure 8 is an end view of the container of Figure 6 in flattenedcondition;

Figures 9, 10 and 11 are partial sections on the lines 99, 10-10 and11-11, respectively, of Figure 6;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a container embodyingthe inventionprovided with a central partition;

Figure 13 is an elevation of the blank from which the container ofFigure 12 is formed;

Figure 14 is an end elevation of the container of Figure 12 in partiallyflattened condition; and

Figure 15 is a section on the line 15-15 of Figure 12.

The basic container, as shown in Figure 1, is adapted to hold aplurality of articles illustrated as right circular cylindrical cans 10of the type in which various beverages are commonly packaged and sold.The container, as will be understood, may be made of any desired size tohold any desired number of cans or other articles in single or multiplerows. It will further be understood that the container of the inventionis not limited to use with right circular cylindrical articles but canbe used with cylindrical articles of octagonal, hexagonal or rectangularsection equally well. As shown in the drawing, the container holds sixcans in two side-by-side rows of three cans.

The container is formed of a single sheet of paper board, or the like,cut into a blank, as illustrated in Figure 2, to provide a bottom panel11, side panels 12 and 13 and partial top panels 14 and 15. The toppanels may be glued together by means of a line of adhesive 16 along theedge of one of the top panels which will overlap the edge of the othertop panel, as seen in Figures 1, 3 and 4, to form a complete rectangularcontainer with open ends. It will be noted that the container is formedwith only a single glued seam which extends centrally across the toppanel and serves to reinforce this panel as well as greatly simplifyingthe construction and erection of the container.

At the ends of the side panels 12 and 13 integral flaps 17 are providedwhich are foldably connected to the end panels to be folded in betweenthe inner surfaces of the end panels and the articles in the container.To the ends of these flaps and to the ends of the adjacent top andbottom panels integral webs 18 are foldably .connected and arepreferably provided with central fold lines parallel to the foldingjoint between the side and top and bottom panels. It will be understoodthat in forming the blank the several parts are cut out as shown in theoutline and that the several fold lines between adjacent panels andbetween the panels, the flaps and the webs are scored for easy folding.

The containers can be shipped either glued or unglued in fiat conditionto the point of filling and can be filled while glued or can be gluedduring filling, as desired. Figure 3 illustrates the partially flattenedcondition of the container with the edges of the top panel portionsoverlapping and with the side panels folded flat against each other. Inthis condition in which the containers are shipped and stored, the flapsand webs lie in the planes of the panels in flat condition, as shown inFigure 3.

To fill the container, it is erected as illustrated in Figure 4 with theflaps and webs still lying in the planes of the panels and projectingoutward from the ends of the container so that the cans 10 or otherarticles can easily be inserted in the ends of the container. When thecontainer is filled, the flaps 17 are folded in to lie between thecontainer and the articles therein, as clearly shown in Figure 5. Thisoperation can easily be performed even while the articles are in thecontainer since the flaps will bend around and pass between the sidepanels and the articles. When the flaps are so folded, thewebs.18..extend.a.c1'ossv the corners of the container and engage theend and side portions of the articles in the container to hold themagainst accidentalremoval. It willibe-noted that theiflaps and websrequire very little materialandwarezsecuredtim;

holding condition without the necessitymfany gluing or other fasteningso that the container is extremely lnexpena sive and can easily befilled.

With the flaps folded in, as shown inFigures 1i and-.5,.

the articles are securely held against accidental removal through theends of the container in all normal storage.

and handling operations. When" it is desired to remove the articles theflaps. 17 can'be' pulled out by handwith: relatively little effort toopen the endsof the container completely so that thearticles can easilybe taken there from.

Figures 6 to 11 illustrateamodification of the construction of Figures 1to 5 -wherein a reinforced-handle isprovided at the top of the containerfor easy carrying. The several partsin Figures 6 to 11 corresponding tolike. parts in Figures 1' to 5' are indicated by the same referencenumerals plus 100.

In this-construction, the ends of the top panel portions 114 and 115 areformed with handle cut-outs 121 and 122- of generally U-shape foldablyconnected to the panel,

portions. V In cementing the panel portions together. one of the handlecut-outs is folded back over the top-of its adjacent panel audits innersurface is cemented to the inner surface of 'the opposite handle portionat the. samestored in flattened condition, as illustrated in Figure 8,.

which shows the container partially folded. In this condition thehandles will lieflat against one side of the top panel andthe-sidepanels will lie parallel to each other in face-to-face relation; Thecontainer can be erected and' filled in the same manner as'the containerof Figures 1 to'S'and in the filled container'the handles maybe foldedflat against the'top panel, if desired, to' save space in storage orshipment.

Figures 12 to 15 illustrate still another embodiment in which thecontainer is formed with, a central divider panel to separate adjacentrows of articles. This construction is formed from a single integralblank of paper board, or the like, as shown in Figure 13, which is cutand scored to provide a bottom'panel' portion foldably connected to aside panel 26 which is inturn foldably conneeted to a top panel portion271 The'toppa'nel portion is provided with a handle cut-out 28-foldablyjoined to a handle cut-out 29 at an adjacent top panel portion31. The top panel portion 31'isfoldably joined to a; side panel 32 whichis in turn foldably joined tothe remaining.

bottom portion 33. The bottom panel portion 33' is fold ably joined toav central divider panel portion 34 whichis formed at its end with anarrow handle cut-out 35;

To assemble this container the bottom panel portion. 25 is folded aroundto connect to the bottom panel portion 33 adjacent to the fold linebetween the panel portion 33 and the central divider panel 34. Thecentral divider panel. 34 is folded tolie between the side panels 26and. 32 with the handle portion 35 extending between the handle portions28 and 29. The three handle portions. are cemented together and theextensions at the side of the handle portions 28 and 29' on the toppanelportions 27 and 31 are overlapped and cemented together. This completesassembly of the container with cementing: only at two places centrallyof the top and bottom panels.v

In assembled condition, the container can be folded flat, as indicatedin- Figure 14, for" easy shipment'and" storage and can be erected to theposition shown in Figure 12 for filling. When folded, the handle willfold flat against the top panel so that it occupies a minimum of spaceand can even be folded fiat against the top panel after the container iserected for shipment and storage.

The ends of the side panels 26 and 32 are formed with foldable flaps 36andfoldable webs 37 similar to the webs 1-8 or 118 arefoldably joined tothe ends of-the'fiaps andthe ends of the adjacent top and bottom panels.When the container is filled the flaps 36 are folded in between the sidepanels and the articles in the container in the same'mannerasin Figuresl to 11 so that the webs'37 will extend across'the corners of thecontainer open ends to hold the articles therein against accidentalremoval. In this construction, however, the articles are separated bythe central dividing panel 34 which also substantially increases the'strength of the carrier.

While three embodiments of the invention have been shown and describedherein, it will beunderstood that they are illustrative only and notto-be taken as a definition of the scope of theinvention, referencebeing'had for this purpose to the appended claims.

Whatis claimed is:

1. In. combination, a cartonand a plurality of cylindricalarticles, saidcarton being for-med of paper board or the:l-ike with interconnectedtop,bottom andside panels defining. an open ended container in which thearticles are received: in side byside relationship, a foldable flapfoldably joined to the end of at least one of the panels alongafoldlinespaced" from and'generally parallel to the end1ofthepanelzt'o-fold back into the container between said oneaofthepanels andan adjacent one of the articles inthercontainer; and a web formed of apair of generally triangular sections foldably joined to each otheralong a centrahfold:line:and foldably joined to-one end-of the flapandtoan'radjacent' panel along angularly related fold lines, all of thefold! lines meeting at a common point at one corneIr-ofi theicarrier'and the web extending across a corner of. the open end of the containerand contacting an end; edge: portion of the adjacent article to preventaccidental removal of articles from the container.

2. 'In combination, a carton and a plurality of cylindrical articles;said carton comprising an elongated sheet ofipaper'board or'thelikehaving its'ends overlapping and secured: together and defining an openended container havingifold-ablyjoined' top, bottom and side panels, theconnection: between the ends of the sheet lying centrally ofione-.of;thepanels, the-articles being held'in side by side relationship inthecontainer, integral flaps foldably joined to the ends of certainofthe panels along fold lines spaced from andgenerally parallel to theends of the panels to foldiback into the container between the panelsand adjacent ones: of the articles in the container, and integral webseach;formed of a pair of generally triangular sections foldably joinedto each other along a central fold line and foldablyjoined to the endsof the flaps and to-the ends of adjacent panels-along angularly relatedfold lines, all of the fold lines meeting at a common point at onecorner of the carrier, and the webs extending across the corners of theopen ends of the container and contacting. the end edge portionof theadjacent article.

3; In combination, a. carton and a plurality of cylindricalarticles,,said carton comprising an elongated sheet of paper board orthe like defining foldably connected top, bottom and. side panelsdefining a container with open ends in which the articles are receivedin side by side relationship, cut-outhandle extensions at the ends ofthe sheet foldably secured thereto, the ends of the sheet overlappingand' being secured together centrally of the top panel with the handleextensions being secured together'face-to-face' and foldable away fromthe top panel, integral flaps foldably connected to the ends of certainof the panels to fold back into the carrier between the panels:

and articles in the container, and integral webs formed of a pair ofgenerally triangular sections foldably joined to each other along acentral fold line and foldably connected to the ends of the flaps andthe ends of adjacent panels along angularly related fold lines, all ofthe fold lines at each end of the flap meeting at a common point at onecorner of the carrier and the Web extending across the corners of theopen ends of the container and contacting the end edge portion of theadjacent article.

4. In combination, a carton and a plurality of cylindrical cans, saidcarton having a first body wall for supporting a plurality of cans inupright position, a second body wall articulated to said first namedbody wall and extending at right angles thereto for contact by the sidesof the cans supported on said first body wall, and a third bodyarticulated to said second body wall and overlying the tops of saidcans, said body walls having a length substantially equal to thecombined cross sectional dimensions of the cylindrical cans so that theoutermost edges of the end cans in the carton coincide substantiallywith the end edges of the body walls, a score line in said second bodywall extending parallel to and spaced from an end edge thereof to definea flap, a pair of angularly 6 related lines of fold at each end ofsaidflap having a common point of juncture at the end of said line of fold,the first diagonal fold line of each pair being formed in said flap andextending diagonally outwardly from said common point of juncture to thefree edge of said flap, the remaining score lines in each pair beingformed, one each, in said first and third body walls and extendingoutwardly from said common points of juncture to the free ends of saidbody walls, said pairs of angularly related lines of fold defininggenerally triangular saddle members adapted to be deflected from theplanes of the walls in which they are formed upon infolding of the saidflap to define saddles bridging the ends of the body walls andcontacting end edge portions of the endmost can supported on said firstbody wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSWilliamson et a1. July 19, 1955

